CONTENT CATEGORIES
Each content category is evaluated by a jury that includes specialists within that area of study.

Best Animal Behavior Program

Awarded to the program that most effectively explores animal behavior in a new, fresh, imaginative or authoritative way.

Best Wildlife Habitat Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores a unique habitat or ecosystem.

Best Conservation Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively contributes to an awareness of timely and relevant conservation issues and/or solutions.

Best People & Nature Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores the interdependent relationship between humans and animals or the environment.

Best Science and Nature Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively incorporates science, the scientific method and scientific discovery into an understanding of some aspect of the natural world.

Conservation Hero
Awarded to the film that most effectively celebrates the impact of individuals or groups committed to enhance the protection, awareness or understanding of a species, ecosystem or some other aspect of the natural world.

PROGRAM CATEGORIES
Programs are judged on the basis of their artistic and storytelling excellence, accuracy and technical achievements.

Best Educational/Institutional Program
Awarded to the non-broadcast or commercially distributed program that most successfully educates its audience on some aspect of the natural world. This includes projects created by government agencies, NGOs, universities and other institutions.

Best Limited Series – Long Form
Awarded to the mini-series with episodes longer than 20 minutes in length, that most effectively advances a natural history theme. Individual episodes may be entered into other categories. Submit three episodes that best represent the series.

Best Limited Series – Short Form
Awarded to the mini-series with episodes shorter than 20 minutes in length, that most effectively advances a natural history theme. Individual episodes may be entered into other categories. Submit three episodes that best represent the series.

Best Children’s Program
Awarded to the program that most effectively inspires an appreciation of the natural world, or issues associated with animals and the environment to young people 6-12 years of age.

Best Hosted or Presenter-led Program
Awarded to the program that makes the most effective use of a host or presenter in communicating an appreciation and understanding of the natural world.

Best Short Program
Awarded to the program, between five and 20 minutes in length (including PSAs, music videos, and campaigns), that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world.

Best Short Short
Awarded to the most effective and compelling project under five minutes in length (including PSAs, music videos, and campaigns), that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world.

Best Theatrical Program
Awarded to the program created for commercial distribution that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world. This category includes programs distributed in theaters, BluRay/DVD or streamed via the internet.

Best Immersive Program (Sponsored by Sky-Skan)
Awarded to the program created for distribution in an immersive theater environment that best uses its technology and resources to advance an appreciation or understanding of the natural world. This category includes Large Format, 3-D programs and Full Dome programs. Finalists and award winners will be selected entirely by peer judges. If a sufficient number of entries are submitted, organizers/judges may create separate categories for each format.

Marian Zunz Emerging Filmmaker
Presented in recognition of the achievement of the best first-time filmmaker in the field of natural history production. This award is intended for filmmakers who, while they may have worked on other natural history films, are making the first film for which they have creative control. Submission must include a resumé showing past work and an outline of the responsibilities of those who worked on the program.

Best Interactive Media
Awarded to the project that best integrates the interactive potential of digital media to engage awareness and understanding of the natural world in distribution methods that include apps, games, web-based, mobile, and downloaded personal media.

CRAFT CATEGORIES
Peer judges will select the finalists and award winners in these categories.

Best Sound (Sponsored by Dolby Laboratories)
Awarded for the combined contribution of production mixing, sound editing, and post production mixing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. This category will be judged by Dolby Laboratories and DVDs with 5.1 audio is the optimal choice, although Stereo will be accepted. Submission requires three DVDs.

Best Visualization
Awarded for the cinematography and/or computer generated visual imaging, modeling and other visual storytelling that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. If sufficient entries are submitted, organizers/judges may create categories.

Best Editing
Awarded for the editing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.

Best Original Musical Score
Awarded for the original musical score that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.

Best Writing
Awarded for the writing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part through the union of imagery, storyline, dialog and narration. A word document or PDF of the script (in English) must be submitted in addition to the standard submission requirements.